Combination wire-stretching tool



March 21, 1950 m; ARMQND 2,501,500

COMBINATION WIRE STRETGHING TOOL Filed June 4, 1946 INVENTOR. RA YMO/VO 0E ARMa/w,

" w/wzmww I ATTOR/VE vs,

Patented Mar. 21, 1950 UN STAT FF ICE 2,501,500; EQMBINATIQNWIRE-STRETCHING TOOL Raymond: De Armond, Gollinsville, Okla.

pp n J1me 946, S rial N1 -v 6 .43%.

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improved wire stretching tool and more particularly to a combination tool especially adapted for stretching and holding wire in position in fence building operations. I The chief; object of theinvention is the'provisijon of a tool which facilitates the erection of wir fences-by making itpossible forthe user to hav both handsfree forsejcuring the wire while holding the same in position,

A fi'irther'object-of-the invention is the provision of a tool which is capable of use with fence wire of widely difierent gauges and which does not damage the wire by cutting it in the stretching operation.

Another object is to provide a tool of the kind referred to combining in the same implement several elements for performing a number of different operations in the repair, maintenance and construction of fences, and of general utility otherwise.

The above and other obiects are accomplished by the hereinafter described tool which combines a wire stretcher, staple puller, hammer, wire cutter, screw driver, pliers and nail puller in a single implement.

The invention will best be understood from the following description of the same taken in connection with the annexed drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the combination tool,

Figur 2 is a side elevation partially broken away, showing the tool with the wire gripping elements thereof in open position, and

Figure 3 is an end View of Figure 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, i represents the head of the improved wire stretching tool, and 2 and 3 the handles of the same.

The handle 2 is straight and is formed integrally with the head I. At the region where the handle 2 joins the head i a shouldered portion t is formed on the head.

The handle 3 is secured to the handle 2 by a pivot l, which Works in a slot 8 having notches 9 formed in the handle '2. In the region of the pivot l, the handle 3 is bent at l0 to form the jaw ii, opposed to the shouldered portion 4 of the head i, and provided with serrations or teeth l2. The portion of the shoulder 4 of head I which is opposed to th jaw H is also provided with serrations or teeth M.

The handle 3 has a slight bend at 5 to provide a portion 6 lying parallel to the handle 3, when the jaw l is closed upon the portion 4.

The jaw H has a slight taper, so that when (Cl. Zia-7T) -2 closed upon the poi tien l the teeth; l2 of the outer end ofthe jaw 'engage the opp'osed teeth 'M'of the portien 4,-but the-teeth on the inner the tool is used as a hammer.

The head I has a rounded portion 2| formed with serrations or teeth 22 for a purpose later to be made apparent. The curved portion 2| is extended at 23 to form a tapered and pointed member 2a functioning as a staple puller. A rounded portion 26 extends between the rounded portion 2| and the shoulder 4 of the head I. This rounded portion 26 has a round-bottomed groove 28 formed therein for the reception of a wire passed around the head I in a manner later to be pointed out. The staple pulling point 24 has a surface 29 co-extensive with a side of the groove 28.

Handles 2 and 3 have opposed, wire-cutting notches 3| and 32 respectively formed therein, as seen in Figure 1. Handle 2 is formed at its free end with nail pulling claw 34, and handle 3 is formed at its end with a screw driver blade 35.

To use the tool as a wire-stretcher, the fence wire is passed over the curved portion 26 of the head I in the groove 28 thereof and bent down along the shoulder 4 to be gripped between the teeth I2 of jaw H and teeth M on head I. The handles 2 and 3 are squeezed together, gripping the wire between the teeth l2 and i4, and the teeth 22 of rounded portion 2| of head I are brought to bear upon a fence post or other bearing surface.

By rocking the rounded portion 2| on the bearing surface, using the handles as a lever, the wire can be brought into the desired position and stretched condition. In this condition of the tool, the handles 2 and 3 can be permitted to rest against the operators body and the wire thus maintained in position, leaving the operator with both hands fre to make other adjustments, such as stapling or otherwise securing the wire in place.

It will be noted that the teeth 22 of the curved portion 2| will prevent slipping of the head I 3 from the surface upon which it is brought to hear.

The surface 29 of staple pulling point 24 helps in guiding and retaining the wire in the groove 28.

In using the tool as pliers, the pivot 1 is adjusted in one of the notch 9, which permits the jaw H to open a sufficient distance to accommodate a nut or other object between the teeth 12 and M. In this manner various sizes of nuts, whether round or having flattened sides can be operated upon.

Wire may be cut by inserting the same in the notches 3| and 32 and closing the handles 2 and 3.

The nail puller 34, screw driver 35, and staple puller 24 are used in the conventional manner of employment of such devices, and the tool can perform the functions of a hammer by using the combined handles 2 and 3 as a hammer handle and the head I as a hammer head.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides a tool of simple design and rugged construction, especially useful in erecting wire fences, and also capable of performing a wide variety of generally useful functions.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

A wire-working tool comprising a, head, a handle integral with said head, said head providing a shoulder at one side of said handle and having a rounded outer surface opposite said handle and a rounded end surface at one side of said handle, a second handle having a jaw on one end thereof, means pivotally connecting said second handle to said head-attached handle so that said jaw is opposed to said shoulder at the side of said head-attached handle opposite said rounded end surface, whereby a wire may extend along said rounded end surface and said shoulder and be clamped between said shoulder and said jaw and said rounded outer surface may provide a fulcrum for stretching said wire, said rounded end surface having a wire-positioning groove therein and said rounded outer surface, said shoulder and said jaw being serrated.

RAYMOND DE ARMOND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 379,669 Warren Mar. 20, 1888 540,160 Gilreath May 28, 1895 569,229 Pratt Oct. 13, 1896 1,430,388 Leslie Sept. 26, 1922 1,438,955 Gilmor Dec. 19, 1922 1,739,658 Smith Dec. 17, 1929 

